More "it was just an accident" coverage from Texas
The local news reports that “investigators say there are no charges on the driver. They believe this was an accident and that somehow the driver lost control of his truck.”
Texas’ governor recently vetoed a law that would mandate a safe passing distance for cyclists, saying it was unnecessary.
A San Antonio writer says that cyclists are treated like "deer on the road." Since then the Bexar County District Attorney has decided to consider charges.
A pedicab driver and a taxicab driver get into a fight in NYC. Pedicab driver loses. But they both look like jerks to me as they manage to get everything wrong.
- Honk=Wrong
- Throw Coffee=Wrong
- Hit pedicab=Wrong
- Attack Driver=Wrong
- Fight in Street=Wrong
- Ride Away=Debatable
- Give Finger=Wrong
Bostonist has photos from their Tweed Ride.
The Tour of Missouri bike race generated $38.1 million in revenue according to a study by the Lt. Gov.
About 500,000 spectators watched the tour at one of the 11 host cities or somewhere along the 600-mile route, which passed through many communities in Missouri.
Copenhagenize has a five part series on "The Fear of Cycling" by Dave Horton. (tip FABB)
Fears of cycling are socially, geographically and historically variable, which is to say that they will depend on who you are (man, woman, child, young, old, black, white, fat, fit), where you are (Copenhagen, Brussels, Mumbai, town, countryside, road, cycle path), and when (day, night, rush hour, weekend, winter, summer, a century ago, now, the future …). Over time, some of these fears will also tend to become culturally embedded, and therefore hard to change. But it’s worth trying to change them.
Not about biking, but about football, helmets and head injuries(and dog fighting). It's a LONG article, but good.
What most people don’t realize is that we are decades, if not forever, from having a helmet that would fix the problem. I mean, you have two men running into each other at full speed and you think a little bit of plastic and padding could absorb that 150 gs of force?”
Time writes about Green Highways
The idea is to retrofit roadways with charging stations and tailor routes to low-speed, limited-distance electric and muscle-powered vehicles, including EVs, hybrids, bicycles, scooters, horses and Segways. The basic law: stay under 35 m.p.h., unless your vehicle is crash-tested and certified for higher speeds. Of course, good old gas guzzlers are welcome too, as long as they go slow.
Bike Portland writes a post that really does have a lot to do with DC. Jonathan Maus writes about how businesses think that removing parking and limiting car access, to give more space to bikes, is bad for business. Sounds like K Street where the business groups along the route are opposed to Alternative 3 that takes away parking and adds space for bikes and transit.
The thinking goes like this: Car access equals business success. However, there are recent academic and real life examples that seem to prove that bike access is good for business.
Also out of Portland, an article about how the police and cyclists have reached an agreement about how to better enforce the law.
Bicyclists who blow through stoplights at busy intersections probably should be stopped and cited or warned, depending on the circumstance. On the other hand, group riders are usually "good-humored fun seekers" who don't mean to tick off cops.
Photo: Tom Reel, San Antonio Express News.
As may already be clear, I am not a fan of Copenhagenize. Before we get all fuzzy and warm about Horton's pieces, it's important to see how they fit into the larger message of the blog. That message is that the basic problem is *not* dangerous roads, but rather irrational fear. Mikael (Copenhagaze's founder and editor) has decided that "cycling is safe," and that the *real* problem, basically, is *cyclists*--cyclists who contribute to a culture of fear by wearing helmets, and make cycling appear "strange" by wearing lycra, etc.
If fact, Mikael would presumably see this blog, with its focus on bike fatalities, unsafe roads, etc. as part of the problem.
Posted by: guez | October 18, 2009 at 10:41 AM
I tried commenting... but it appeared in the wrong space
that girl is so cute
that image is so sad
the senseless death of her parents fills me with a wide range of emotions
all we can hope is that this little girl grows up to become a super hero to avenge the death of her parents
Posted by: gwadzilla | January 19, 2010 at 03:34 PM